In Reynoldsburg, construction continues for a state-of-the-art laboratory for the Ohio Department of Agriculture. The Ohio Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory is an $80 million investment to expand and improve the efficiency of livestock testing.

Animals are the first line of defense for humans when it comes to diseases, according to Director Brian Baldridge.

While the current lab has served the department well, it has outgrown the testing capacity needed for the state. Some testing is being sent out of state, which Director Baldridge hopes will change with this new facility.

"We want to provide those services and make sure we can handle that volume of load for our Ohio farmers."

With 500,000 tests being conducted per year, more space was needed to handle that load. Deputy Director Jared Parko has been coordinating this project between construction and the design team.

"There's a lot of coordination of how do we get samples into the lab? How do we move samples throughout the lab? And then a lot of considerations with biosecurity, biosafety, and making sure that you know we are containing anything that goes into the lab, but also making sure that our customers have access and are able to get what they need in and get the results out of the lab."

There will also be unique features of the new facility, including a drive-through for dropping off test samples, a new containment area for necropsy, and a tour route that groups will be able to see the testing happen.

The new laboratory is expected to be completed by late fall of 2026.

Source - https://cwcolumbus.com